‘Hold your nerve and trust nature’: birds, bats and butterflies rebound at Somerset rewilding farm
A rewilding project at Heal Somerset has led to a significant increase in wildlife diversity over three years. The number of bird species has risen from 67 to 94, while butterfly species have increased from 11 to 24. The initiative demonstrates the positive impact of allowing nature to reclaim land previously used for conventional agriculture.
- ▪Heal Somerset has seen the number of bird species rise from 67 to 94 in three years.
- ▪The project has also recorded an increase in butterfly species from 11 to 24.
- ▪The site is home to at least 15 bat species and 60 breeding bird species, including endangered ones.
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A short-eared owl in flight at Heal Somerset. The number of bird species at the former farm has risen from 67 to 94 in three years. Photograph: Jenny VickersView image in fullscreenA short-eared owl in flight at Heal Somerset. The number of bird species at the former farm has risen from 67 to 94 in three years. Photograph: Jenny VickersRewilding‘Hold your nerve and trust nature’: birds, bats and butterflies rebound at Somerset rewilding farm Letting nature take over at a former dairy farm has resulted in a surge of species in just three yearsPatrick BarkhamMon 1 Jun 2026 08.55 EDTLast modified on Mon 1 Jun 2026 08.56 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleThree years of rewilding on a former dairy farm in east Somerset have seen recorded bird species soar from 67 to 94, butterfly species…
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